ppl. a. and sb. [a. Fr. expectant, or perh. ad. its original L. ex(s)pectant-em, pr. pple. of exspectāre: see EXPECT.]
A. adj.
1. That is in an attitude or state of expectation; waiting, looking out. Const. † for, of, † on.
c. 1400. Rom. Rose, 4571. Abide in hope … Expectant ay tille I may mete.
14[?]. Purific. Mary, in Tundale’s Vis. (1843), 131. Symeon … That was expectaunt … On the comfort and consolacion of Isrel.
1641. Sir E. Dering, Sp. on Relig., 22 Nov. xv. 65. And why are we told that the people are expectant for a Declaration?
1730–6. in Bailey (folio).
1801. Southey, Thalaba, III. xvii. His dog … Now lifts an anxious and expectant eye, Courting the wonted caress.
1856. Mrs. Browning, Aur. Leigh, IV. 899. Romney at the porch Looked out expectant of the bride.
1862. Trench, Mirac., xv. (ed. 3), 253. From among this suffering expectant multitude Christ singles out one.
1872. A. W. Hutton, Posit. Catholics in Ch. Eng., 33. The Church Militant, the Church Expectant.
b. esp. That has the prospect, in ordinary course, of succeeding to a possession, office, etc., or of occupying a certain position; ‘that is to be’ (so-and-so). Also, that expects, thinks himself likely, to be appointed to an office, etc.
1393. Gower, Conf., I. 216. As he that tho was apparant Upon the regne expectant.
1640–1. Kirkcudbr. War-Comm. Min. Bk. (1855), 57. The supplicatioun presentit by Johne Somervaiil, expectant minister.
a. 1691. Bp. Barlow, Rem. (1693), 276. The Supernumerary expectant Clergy.
1714. Swift, Pres. State Affairs, Wks. 1755, II. I. 220. Scruples artificially raised in the mind of the expectant heir.
1838. Lytton, Calderon, i. 304. The zeal of a pious Catholic, expectant of the cardinal’s hat.
1886. Law Times, LXXXII. 94/2. An expectant occupier has a locus standi to apply for the renewal of a public-house licence.
c. Eng. Law (see quot.).
1875. Sir G. Jessel, Law Rep. 10 Chanc. Appeals 391. That peculiar position of reversioner or remaindersman which is oddly enough described as an expectant heir. This phrase is used, not in its literal meaning, but as including … every one who has the hope of succession to the property of an ancestor.
2. Characterized by expectation or waiting for the course of events; esp. in Medicine, in expectant method, etc. (see quot. 1866).
1816. Southey, in Q. Rev., XVI. 513. Like the continental physicians, such statesmen would pursue the expectant system.
1860. Motley, Netherl. (1868), I. iii. 80. The policy of England continued to be expectant and dilatory.
1866. A. Flint, Princ. Med. (1880), 112. The treatment of a disease is expectant whenever the physician does not attempt to abridge or arrest it, but strives to aid in conducting it to a favorable termination.
3. Law. Existing in expectancy, or belonging to one in reversion or remainder; reversionary. Hence, in ordinary lang.: To be expected or anticipated.
1628. Coke, On Litt., 21. He hath … a fee simple expectant.
1670. Sir T. Culpeper, Necess. Abating Usury, 13. Upon the Encouragement of a long and good lease, he … will be enabled to venture on Improvements chargeable and expectant.
1765. Blackstone, Comm., I. 217. On her … the remainder of the crown, expectant on the death of king William … without issue, was settled by statute.
1768–74. Tucker, Lt. Nat. (1834), II. 659–60. We encourage ourselves to any laborious or disagreeable task by prospect of the profit expectant therefrom.
1818. Cruise, Digest (ed. 2), V. 25. The right of the remainder-man, expectant on the determination of the estate tail.
1827. Jarman, Powell’s Devises, II. 111. The fee expectant on his wife’s life estate.
1858–9. Act 21–2 Vict., c. 44 § 11, in Oxf. & Camb. Enactm., 264. The reversion immediately expectant on the determination thereof.
B. sb.
1. One who expects an arrival, occurrence, etc.; one who looks to receive something.
a. 1661. Fuller, Worthies, Middlesex, II. 179. [Sir Julius Cæsar] though heaved at by some Expectants, sate still in his place.
1664. H. More, Myst. Iniq., Apol. 539. The ill comportment of some that profess themselves so eager Expectants of this great happiness from the Kingdom of Christ.
1706. Reflex. upon Ridicule, 235. They’ll submit all their Inferiours and Expectants to all their Whims and Fancies.
1725. Pope, Odyss., I. 323. Vain expectants of the bridal hour.
1866. J. G. Murphy, Comm. Exod. xxxii. 1. 328. Moses delayed, literally, put the expectants to shame by his non-appearance.
1877. Kinglake, Crimea (ed. 6), V. i. 235. From moment to moment he was an expectant of death.
2. One entitled to expect something to which he will succeed or come in due course, as an owner in reversion, the next heir, etc. In Eng. Law = expectant heir: see A. 1 c.
1625–8. trans. Camden’s Hist. Eliz., IV. (1675), 564. Those that are Expectants of the Crown.
1654. Gayton, Pleas. Notes, III. ix. 127–8. This puts … the Expectant, to fresh charge.
1686. Kettlewell, Serm. Death Ld. Digby, 3. Those, who are now no longer Candidates and Expectants, but inherit the Promises.
1751. Ld. Hardwicke, 2 Ves. Sr. 157. [The species of fraud] which infects catching bargains with heirs, reversioners, or expectants, in the life of the father, [etc.].
1788. H. Walpole, Remin., iii. 27. Some devoting themselves to the wearer of the crown, and others to the expectant.
1817. Canning, in Parl. Deb., 330. The impatient expectants of a dilapidated inheritance.
1853. Marsden, Early Purit., 186. James, king of Scotland, the eager expectant of her throne.
b. A candidate for, or one who expects, any office or employment. In Scotland, formerly, ‘a candidate for the ministry who has not yet received a license to preach the gospel’ (Jam.).
1641. Act Assembly Glasgow, 7 Aug. (Jam.). No expectant shall be permitted to preach in publike before a congregation til first he be tryed after the same manner.
1646. Burd. Issachar, in Phenix (1708), II. 264. Students in Divinity … are enrol’d Expectants of such or such a Presbytery.
1647. N. Bacon, Disc. Govt. Eng., I. vi. (1739), 28. This … may give some liking to the present Incumbents, but not to the Expectants.
1692. in J. Fisher’s Life, i. 10. [They would be pleased] to desire Mr. Thomas Fisher expectant … to come and preach to them.
1802. Ann. Reg., 2. The spirit of violence … manifested … by … the expectants of government.
1852. Sir W. Hamilton, Discuss., 401. A clerical expectant whose hopes are bounded by a College living.
1855. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., III. 295. Name whom he might, he could not fail to disappoint and irritate a multitude of expectants.
Hence Expectantly adv., in an expectant manner; in the attitude of expectation.
1857. W. Collins, Dead Secret (1861), 238. His head turned expectantly in the direction in which he had last heard … his wife’s voice.
1876. Geo. Eliot, Dan. Der., IV. xxx. The children … stood in front of her with their sweet faces upturned expectantly.
